Tradition of Excellence Award Goes To John V. Quinlan
- Past Chair Ana Veliz presents the Tradition of Excellence Award to John V. Quinlan
Each year, the Tradition of Excellence Award honors one lawyer for exceptional contributions to, or an exemplary career in, solo and/or small firm practice. On June 25, 2010, during a cocktail reception held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the Florida Bar, the Section awarded the Tradition of Excellence Award to John V. Quinlan of Bradenton.
Mr. Quinlan is the managing partner at Green, Hamrick, Perrey, Quinlan & Schermer, P.A. in Bradenton. He primarily represents banking institutions with regard to lender liability issues and real estate law, including the closing of complex commercial real estate transactions. Not only is Mr. Quinlan a talented lawyer, his commitment to the small firm, the legal community, and the community at large is evidenced by his years of service to the local bar associations, the judiciary, and the community in which he practices.
His service to the local bar includes years of service as a director and officer of the Manatee County Bar Association, where his efforts included service on the Law Library Committee. Mr. Quinlan has been instrumental in improving the law library and securing it new space in the recently-completed Manatee County Judicial Center.
Mr. Quinlan is a graduate of Stetson law school, and has facilitated a number of seminars at Stetson on topics such as banking, bankruptcy, and creditor/debtor issues. He has assisted the judges of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit by teaching on civil litigation and the impact of technology in the courtroom.
In addition to his service on law-related topics, Mr. Quinlan was appointed by Governor Charlie Crist in 2001 to serve on the State Board of Accountancy, where he is currently the only lay member.
Perhaps one characteristic that distinguishes Mr. Quinlan from his peers is his strong commitment to contribute to the community.
Mr. Quinlan became involved with the Manatee County Nursery School in 1981, was elected to its Board of Directors in 1982, and served as Chairman in 1985-86. During that four-year period, the school became a viable self-supporting agency.
In 1983, Mr. Quinlan was elected to the Board of Directors of the Manatee County Girls’ Club, and he eventually served as its President in 1990. During this time, the Girls’ Club went from a financially struggling entity to one of the most successful charitable organizations in Manatee County. In the five years that Mr. Quinlan served on the Club’s Executive Committee, he helped raise over a million dollars for the club, helped construct two new facilities, and established a Club Foundation.
Mr. Quinlan has also served the community by participating in leadership roles with the Bradenton Rotary Club, the local chapter of Junior Achievement, Leadership Manatee, the Downtown Development Authority, and has participated in the Citizen’s Review Initiative of Site Selections for the new municipal government building in Bradenton.
In light of Mr. Quinlan’s exemplary career and his commitment to the bar and the community, the GPSSF Section believes that Mr. Quinlan is a deserving recipient of this prestigious award.
